Posted on 04/19/2013 9:49:05 PM PDT by Jyotishi
Washington - Sikh Americans expressed concern over the possible backlash against the community in the aftermath of the twin bomb blasts in Boston marathon early this week.
Having a bitter experience after 9/11 and a target of hate crime, Sikh leaders urged the community to be careful and vigilant against any violence directed against them.
"In the past, any terrorist action which resulted in American lives, have led to negative impact and violence on the Sikhs who are often targeted due to their conspicuous appearance," said Dr Rajwant Singh, chairman of the Sikh Council on Religion and Education.
"Many Sikh places of worship have been vandalised and attacked in the aftermath of 9/11 and we fear that the Boston tragedy might trigger another wave of reaction against members of the Sikh community," Singh said.
"The Sikh community joins Americans of all backgrounds in expressing our profound condolences and sympathies to the people of Boston, and the participants of the Boston Marathon, after the horrific and tragic bomb attacks that killed and injured so many people," he said.
The Boston bombing, he said, has shocked the Sikh community which is still recovering from the attack at the Wisconsin Sikh Temple a few months ago.
"We feel the pain and suffering of the victims in Boston," Singh added.
"We are requesting everyone, Sikhs and Non-Sikhs, to come together and hold vigilance to show our resolve and solidarity with those killed and injured," said Inderpal Singh Gadh, chairman of Guru Gobind Singh Foundation, a Sikh center in Rockville.
Sikh leaders said this is a time for the community to pull together.
"We are asking all members of the Sikh community to be vigilant. We are urging all Sikh Gurdwaras (temples) to review their security procedures and to be in contact with their local police departments, possibly to request additional patrols," he said.
Meanwhile, many mosques all over the US held special prayers services for the victims of the Boston terrorist bombings. The prayer services were held in congregation during the early yesterday afternoon Sabbath services.
"American Muslim leadership must break this cycle of terrorism, demonisation and more terrorism. Islamophobic media bashing and school bullying is making the Muslim students depressed and angry and a few can resort to violence," said Dr Shaik Ubaid, the New York Co-chair of Muslim Peace coalition USA.
"American foreign policy of waging unjustified war is also a major contributing factor. The Muslim leadership must put in place programs to teach American youth peaceful ways of showing dissent," he said.
I’d rather be around real Sikhs than phony Christians.
Best
Post
Ever!
Heck, you could walk in the worst neighborhood in South Chicago with a Sikh by your side and come out, not only unharmed, but a neighborhood cleaned up of some criminals.
Imagine if you walked in with a Sikh and a Gurkha!
The median Sikh household income is higher than the median non-Hispanic white household income. Sikhs also tend to be higher educated on average.
Also, you’re coming across a cliched stereotype of a bigoted nativist.
I don’t think he was saying WE need to get over 9/11, he was referring to to the Sikhs who were attacked because some idiot thought they were muslims and as such were responsible for 9/11. (At least that’s how I took it.)
Christians are over 70% of the population of the United States. Sikhs are 0.2%.
Shame to see their leaders striving to turn them into sniveling "we're victims too!" whinge pots.
We have plenty of those groups already and are no longer accepting applications.
I didn’t know Sikhs were such whiners.
I believe Sikhism is the world’s fifth largest religion.
Worldwide, there are about 25 million Sikhs. About half a million live in the United States.
Indira was assassinated in retaliation for the Golden Temple massacre.
All that Mr. Singh is saying is that he hopes that there won’t be incidents of violent retaliation against anyone, especially incidents where Sikhs are attacked because people think they’re Muslims. Numerous such incidents happened after 9/11. One hopes they do not happen again.
I was an adult then.....quite aware of the circumstances
Folks were appalled her bodyguards betrayed her and their Sikh legacy for martial honesty
Many here believe this canard Sikhs are like long haired peace loving Gurus with traditional garb
Same folks think Buddhists don’t kill
Hell, the moose-limbs have not got got over the crusades yet.
You are coming across as an A.H.
The Sikhs are a peaceful people, but also fierce fighters.
Indira Gandhi authorized Operation Blue Star, which killed thousands of Sikhs, including some of their leaders. She knew that was what would happen; she wanted it to happen.
I don’t care. I don’t give a damn. They can all go to hell. Who needs them? They should go back to the hell hole from whence they came.
> I don’t care. I don’t give a damn. They can all go to hell. Who needs them? They should
> go back to the hell hole from whence they came.
That’s probably what the guy who massacred them in Wisconsin must have been thinking too.
Boy...lol..you just keep up the canards with dumbassed Americans who don't know better don't you and justify Sikh atrocities as you go.
what are you..Sikh?
i don't have special vitriol for Sikhs ( I actually prefer them to Hindus frankly) but I think it silly how many dummies here think they are like cool monks since they wear turbans and have long hair and beards
plenty Sikh terrorism too....Air India flight 182...hundreds killed...innocent men women and babies...Khalistan movement ...bunch of sweeties...misunderstood they are...really they are just Maharishis with cute little decorative knives
You are right.
FWIW, there have been some notable examples of terror perpetrated by Sikhs- mostly in India and Canada, it seems. The scale of their terror, however, pales in comparison to muslim terror.
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